The making of 'The Gulf Project Camp: Drama'
M Leuven, foto: Sanne Delcroix
Wael Shawky creates unique artwork for M
The making of 'The Gulf Project Camp: Drama'
In the 1970s, many Egyptians migrated to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States to work in the oil industry. Among those who left were Wael Shawky's family: he spent much of his childhood in Mecca. Life there made a deep impression on him, and much of his art still relates to the oil industry. He even uses oil derivatives in his work - for example, in 'Asphalt City', a model of a city literally worked out in asphalt. An earlier version of it already exists, but at the exhibition in M, a completely new 'Asphalt City' will be on display, tailor-made for the museum. Artist Kaïn Walgrave was closely involved in its creation.
M Leuven, foto: Sanne Delcroix
"I then did some research in November last year into the best way of making a surface that looks like asphalt. There are, of course, major differences: the asphalt of a back road on the farmstead looks very different from what they used here in Leuven for the World Cycling Championships. I just tried to recreate a lot of different textures."
"In total we had about 120 tests with different materials: cement with stones, plaster with sand... Wael Shawky came to look at that. He made a few adjustments and in the end we arrived at a process with five layers: glue - grout - glue - grout - varnish. Grout consists of very small stones. You use it to fill the joints between cobblestones or clinkers. The lacquer makes the surface shiny."
Where exactly do you apply the asphalt layer?
"While we were doing the tests, the museum ordered a lot of volumes in polystyrene foam: cubes, pyramids, half spheres... Myself and two freelance colleagues assemble them into buildings here, which we then coat with a layer of 'asphalt'. We try to make a fairly wide variety of buildings that we think look good. The last phase, positioning the buildings, we will do together with the artist. We also make spare parts and loose elements, so that we can adjust the buildings if he thinks it is necessary. We are now trying to finish as much as possible, but at the same time offer as much flexibility as possible to the artist."
View of the skyline
Where are you going to set up the installation?
"In a room on the top floor of M, where you have a view of the Leuven skyline. It comes on a sloping surface between two windows."
Is it usual for an artist to outsource this kind of work?
"Yes, I've done it before, but it's the first time I've had so much autonomy. But I like that. You are happy if it works out well, and that you have a share in the exhibition. But it is still his idea, and his work."
Wael Shawky's 'Dry Culture Wet Culture', from 11.03 until 28.08.2022 at M.
